Labour leader Joseph Muscat said last night that an EU report on Malta's financial deficit showed that the Maltese government had already discussed the introduction of payment for public health services.

Speaking in Qormi, Dr Muscat said the EU had urged the government to speed up the implementation of the health sector reform.

The EU report was entitled: Report from the Commission - Malta - report prepared in accordance with Article 104 (3) of the Treaty. In it, the Commission said: "to strengthen the medium-term budgetary framework and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of public spending, including by accelerating the design and implementation of a comprehensive health care reform."

Dr Muscat said the reform which the Commission had spoken about was that outlined in a report he revealed last week and which, in its terms of reference, did not exclude payment for health services.

The Leader of the Opposition also pointed out that that when the government was criticised for charging VAT on vaccines, it had, through Parliamentary Secretary Joseph Cassar, claimed it was the EU which imposed the charge. Now the European Commission had belied the government, Dr Muscat said.

BAHRIJA DEVELOPMENT SCANDAL

The Labour leader said it was scandalous that the Planning Authority had issued a permit through which PN president Victor Scerri would be able to build in the heart of Bahrija valley, in an Outside Development Zone. The permit was granted when something happened after several refusals, Dr Muscat said.

Yet he had just met a family where the father and his son were disabled but they had, for three years, been refused a permit to roof a yard at their home in the centre of Malta, Dr Muscat said.

He said such things were shameful, and in Malta, no one assumed responsibility for his actions.